The Digital Dark Alley: Teaching Cybersecurity Like Fire Safety by Building Cyber Habits That Stick | An Infosecurity Europe 2025 Conversation with Jemma Davis | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli

As Infosecurity Europe prepares to mark its 30th anniversary, Portfolio Director Saima Poorghobad shares how the event continues to evolve to meet the needs of cybersecurity professionals across industries, sectors, and career stages. What began in 1996 as a niche IT gathering has grown into a strategic hub for over 14,000 visitors, offering much more than just vendor booths and keynotes. Saima outlines how the event has become a dynamic space for learning, collaboration, and strategic alignment—balancing deep technical insight with the broader social, political, and technological shifts impacting the cybersecurity community.

The Power of the Crowd: Community, Policy, and Lifelong Learning

This year’s programming reflects the diverse needs of the cybersecurity community. Attendees range from early-career practitioners to seasoned decision-makers, with representation growing from academia and public policy. The UK government will participate in sessions designed to engage with the community and gather feedback to inform future regulation—a sign of how the show has expanded beyond its commercial roots. Universities are also getting special attention, with new student guides and tailored experiences to help emerging professionals find their place in the ecosystem.

Tackling Today’s and Tomorrow’s Threats—From Quantum to Geopolitics

Infosecurity Europe 2024 is not shying away from bold topics. Professor Brian Cox will open the event by exploring the intersection of quantum science and cybersecurity, setting the tone for a future-facing agenda. Immediately following, BBC’s Joe Tidy will moderate a session on how organizations can prepare for the cryptographic disruption quantum computing could bring. Rory Stewart will bring a geopolitical lens to the conversation, examining how shifting alliances, global trade tensions, and international conflicts are reshaping the threat landscape and influencing cybersecurity priorities across regions.

Maximizing the Experience: Prep, Participate, and Party

From hands-on tech demos to peer-led table talks and new formats like the AI and Cloud Security Theater, the show is designed to be navigable—even for first-time attendees. Saima emphasizes preparation, networking, and follow-up as keys to success, with a new content download feature helping attendees retain insights post-event. The celebration culminates with a 90s-themed 30th anniversary party and a strong sense of pride in what this event has helped the community build—and protect—over three decades.

The message is clear: cybersecurity is no longer just a technical field—it’s a societal one.

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Guest: Saima Poorghobad, Portfolio Director at Reed Exhibitions | https://www.linkedin.com/in/saima-poorghobad-6a37791b/ 

Hosts:
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com

Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.marcociappelli.com

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Episode Sponsors

ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

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Resources

Learn more and catch more stories from Infosecurity Europe 2025 London coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/infosec25

Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverage

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KEYWORDS

sean martin, marco ciappelli, saima poorghobad, infosecurity europe, cybersecurity, quantum, ai, policy, community, innovation, event coverage, on location, conference

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